ZOOARCHAEOLOGY AS A COMPLEMENT TO SEA TURTLE RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

WillemiendeKock1,2andCananÇakırlar1

1Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, Poststraat 6, 9712 ER Groningen, The Netherlands

2Marine Evolution and Conservation, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen 11103, The Netherlands

Sea turtle remains have been found at coastalarchaeologicalsitesthroughoutthe Levant,andintheAegean.Presenceofsea turtle bones dating up to ~5000 years before present raises interesting zooarchaeological research avenues into ancient turtle exploitation, however the remains themselves can also be viewed as archives of biological information. The often highly fragmented nature of the bones, requires that novel molecular tools be capitalised on. By applying methods such as protein fingerprinting and ancient population genetics, we can understand more about the species distribution or connectivityinthepast.StableIsotope

Analysis of bone collagen can inform us about any diet changes between past and present. By leveraging the potential for multidisciplinary research of this kind, we can gain a long-term perspective on the plasticity of Mediterranean sea turtles through time. This baseline information could help predict resilience to anthropogenic threats to some extent. In particular the geographic areas utilised by sea turtles throughout millenia can be identified. This contribution explores how bioarchaeological methods can complement or even inform aspects of sea turtle conservationbiology.Everybonehasastory totell.

And The Fishing Community

MedBycatch project, ‘Understanding Mediterranean Multi-Taxa Bycatch of Vulnerable Species and testing Mitigation – A collaborative Approach’, works towards the overall goal to provide knowledge, skills and tools to specifically the incidental capture (referred to as Bycatch) of vulnerable species and habitats One of the key objectives of the MedBycatch programme is to implement the data collection through a collaborative this objective is the relationship created between the fishers and observers Fishers’ participation for knowledge sharing and the collection of valid data is essential to inform and trial potential measures to mitigate widely acknowledged that forming trust and mutual benefits are key factors in forming relations, however, these have typically been hard to establish between researchers and fishers

Nature is important for us, we make our money from sea, sustainability is important but the priority is always the environment and no one thinks about the fishermen’ (Turkish – 2020) observer programme, national observer teams successfully engaged and established positive relations with fishers to complete over 3,630 questionnaires and over 12,100 on-board observations in four Mediterranean The experiences and knowledge obtained through the observers and fishers participation of the MedBycatch programme for creating and sustaining relations is invaluable for the continuation and expansion researchers wanting to collaborate with fishers the MAVA Learning& Sharing Grant, 60 fishers and 45 Observers from Morocco, Tunisia and Türkiye provided their feedback and expertise from their experiences participating within the MedBycatch Observer programme; the challenges, the successes and how to build and sustain strong working relationships faced in the

Field

from the fishers to accept an observer on-board

Reasons why

 Observers are seen as control officers

 Observers affiliated with NGO’s

 Fear of legal action

 Fear of increased regulations

 Hesitate to accommodate a female observer

 General reluctance

How these were Overcome

 Initiate a conversation to primarily just introduce yourself and learn their names- do not hurry this exchange

 Explaining fully the objectives & benefits of the project, not just for vulnerable species but also in terms

 Gradually building relations through repeat visits to the ports / spending social time with the fishers

 Respecting fishers and not viewing them as data providers

 Providing small gifts of appreciation

 Survey Fatigue and Fishers not informed about the results or conclusions of study/ project

 Fishers worried about consequences of legal actions

 Fishers working within a MPA and fear of more regulations

 If fishers had a bad day

 Develop a dialogue with the fishers

 Fishers witnessing observers working hard on-board participate in questionnaires

 If already established a collaboration with some fishers, conduct meetings to be introduced to other fishers

 Knowing the questionnaire and asking the questions spontaneously and/ or as part of a normal conversation.

 Avoid asking repetitive questions

 Building relations with just having non- survey related conversations.

 Fishers did not used the same terminology as the observers

 Local terms used by fishers to describe vulnerable species could vary from port to port

 Bringing small gifts and offer to help with their boat maintenance identification of vulnerable species

 Having a photo catalogue/ ID guide of vulnerable species to show to fishers to learn the local terms

 Training provided for observers, in addition to the production of location specific ID guides and a support

 Challenges for observers identifying a broad scope of species/ taxa

 Not hindering the fishers’ own work or operations

 Fishers sharing photos of incidentally caught species with observers collect data on board vessels

 Comprehensive data collection

 Ensuring all equipment checks are completed before you board the vessel

 Being extremely organised with all your equipment and survey forms

 Being patient with fishers to foster good relations compliance or bad practices

 Some species are venomous and require extra care

 Fishers unsafe handling and releases of vulnerable species

 Non releases of undersized individuals

 Informing the fishers, the importance of the species, and repeating this information as our relationship common schedule with the fishers

 Fishers operate and have varied duties at different times over a 24hr period

 Various factors contribute to when a fisher will fish e g weather incomplete data provided for questionnaire

 If fishers have had a bad day

 Busy carrying out other duties e.g. landing catch or preparing to sell

 Create and maintain frequent personal contact with the fishers. appropriate time to complete the questionnaire

 Other factors contributing to hard times e.g. fuel costs



Fishers reluctant to share sensitive data, especially fishing areas

 Fishers not providing all information in the survey e.g. total yields

 Neglecting and avoiding to answer a question.

 Fishers providing conflicting answers

Building Relations

language, don’t use academic or technical scientific terms ‘[talking] to the fishers in their own language instead of an academic language’ (Turkish Observer) purpose and how it benefits fishers & don’t approach with bias or blame the essential role that the fishermen play in the preservation of the biodiversity (Moroccan Workshop) and purpose of the project and telling them that we see fishermen as a part of the ecosystem’ (Turkish Observer) be in a hurry, Be an attentive listener & have empathy for the fishers time to express the different problems and challenges that they confront in their work (Moroccan Workshop)

‘[Observers] should be helpful and listen to our problems’ (Turkish Fisher) speak with superiority and all knowing Communicating with fishermen by expressing respect and empathy (Moroccan Workshop) ideas for fishing techniques to increase production without catching vulnerable species’ (Tunisian Observer)

Sustaining Collaborations

the ports even when not conducting surveys & Not just talking about work

‘Be part of the vessel family’ (Moroccan Observer) sociable is very important. Also keeping in touch with the person that you met and stayed on his boat. Keeping the relationships constant makes the fishermen happy’ (Turkish Observer) providers. It is important to share the information of the project and its results

‘Seeing them as statistics only and calling only when we need’ (Turkish Observer)

‘Fishermen shouldn't be forgotten about’ (Turkish Fisher) fishers even after the project has finished touch, activities can be carried out, training sessions can be given, more practices can be done together’ (Turkish Fisher)

‘They should keep in touch and visit us’ (Turkish Fisher)

 Form frequent communication with the fishers to establish a common schedule

 Re-visiting ports at different times of the day/ remaining at ports for long periods of time

 If possible, engage with fishing cooperatives to establish possible best times.

 Explaining the purpose project and how the objectives benefit the fishers and fishery

 Communicate with sincerity and try repeat visits to the port

 Re- asking questions

 Through building relations with the fishers, observers received an increase in data quality

BEST PRACTISES / DO’s

 Speak the language of the fishers

Building Relations

 Explain the project objectives & importance of fishers contribution

 Explain how the project benefits fishers

 Provide an introduction of yourself & any other fishers you may have collaborated with

 Present yourself as a researcher/ student

 Learn the fishers’ name & about them

 Have respect and empathy for fishers

 Actively listen and develop a good dialogue with the fishers

 Always ask permission to board a vessel

 Approach fishers when resting or sorting their nets

 Drinking tea/ coffee or eating with them in a café

 Be flexible to the fishers’ schedule

 Be patient

 Get introduced by someone well known to fishers

 Contacting Cooperatives

 Maintain in contact with the fishers

 Provide assistance/ support

 Keep sensitive information a secret

AVOID / DON’Ts x Use academic/ technical/ foreign x Talk directly about vulnerable species x Speak with superiority or all knowing x Present yourself as an official or x Have a bias approach or place blame x Only talk about the project x Approach fishers if they appear or are in a hurry x Approach fishers as they are boarding x Approach fishers as they are landing

Sustaining Collaborations x Stop the collaboration or contact x Make conversation only about work x End project without providing any

 Share the project results and information directly with the fishers

 Respectful honest conversation

 Being social and visiting the ports even when not conducting surveys

 Sharing knowledge and photos information for building & sustaining strong relations can be found in the KNOWLEDGE SHARING PACKAGE here

Vicky.rae@medasset.org

CONTAINS:

Informative Videos

Fishers & Observers Feedback & their Recommendations for collaborations (English & Turkish)

Practice Guide for Fishers & Observers (Arabic, English, French & Identification Guide MedBycatch project

• MedBycatch Fishers & Observers - ‘Salt in the Eyes’

• Fisher Testimonial Video - ‘My Daughter & The Sea’

• Animation video for the MedBycatch Project and its collaborative approach

• Best practices video‘Amal: Hope For Mediterranean Fisheries’

• CNN Greece / Mission to Tunisia: Saving dolphins, sea turtles& other vulnerable species through MedBycatch project x View fishers as data providers, when you need something

Promotional

• GIF banner for websites

• Samples of project Items